federal agents

Immigration enforcement operations in U.S. urban areas have commonly provoked public protests and accusations that federal agents used heavy-handed tactics and engaged in racial profiling.

Immigration enforcement operations by federal agents have in several instances involved the handcuffing and detention of U.S. citizens and the charging of demonstrators amid community clashes.

Some legal and political actors assert that local law enforcement may detain or arrest federal agents if those federal agents violate state law during enforcement actions.

U.S. National Guard units can be federalized and deployed from one state to another to support federal functions such as protecting federal agents, enforcing federal law, and protecting federal property.

When assigned by U.S. Northern Command to protect federal agents and facilities, National Guard soldiers may be tasked with establishing security perimeters, performing crowd control, using de-escalation tactics, and temporarily detaining individuals to prevent assault or interference, while not being used to effect arrests of protesters in that protective role.

Operational missteps by police, federal agents, protesters, and counterprotesters during prolonged demonstrations can exacerbate tensions, increase fatigue and trauma among law enforcement, and perpetuate cycles of unrest.